BIEN | Opinion
Opinion Posts
Here you will find articles expressing opinions about current issues in the Basic Income debate. Opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of BIEN.
Finnish basic income experiment: Fear of the consequences
Finland’s Ministry of Social Affairs and Health has just published a press release, announcing an experiment based on a partial basic income (800 €/month), instead of a full basic income (1000 €/month).
Wealth of a country: We need to rethink GDP
The purchasing power distributed by a country to its citizens should replace GDP as the measure of their wealth.
Basic income: A new era in capitalism
The UBI is not just a pragmatic step to eliminate government bureaucracy. In fact, it is a desirable policy outcome because it will likely help usher in a new era of free markets and civil society.
Green Technology: Another reason we need basic income
Given a minimum level of safety, people will make better decisions. In particular, they will invest more in green technology, which is unaffordable to many at the moment.
Zwolinski: Basic income helps ‘protect freedom’
One of the most visible libertarian advocates of the basic income is Dr. Matt Zwolinski. Zwolinski is a professor of philosophy at the University of San Diego and has written extensively on the libertarian case for the basic income. In my interview with Zwolinski, he...
US: Stein’s clarification on basic income disappointing
The Green Party and its presidential nominee Jill Stein has made overtures to the guaranteed basic income. However, Stein recently clarified her position on CNN, saying that the basic income is only a “visionary goal” at this point.
Celebrate ninth international basic income week
From September 19th to 25th, 2016 we celebrate the ninth International Week of Unconditional Basic Income, and you can get involved where you are!
TAIWAN: Basic Income is feasible and an imperative
The Unconditional Basic Income has been springing up around the world as a new human rights movement, protecting everyone’s fundamental right to life.
SUMMARY: Guy Standing, “The Corruption of Capitalism: Why rentiers thrive and work does not pay”
Guy Standing has published a new book that became available on July 14, 2016, published by BiteBack. The book notes that the implications of the Age of Rentier Capitalism go beyond the economic sphere as the plutocracy fund and influence political parties, while...
Basic income: the post social democratic economic pathway for the 21st century
The 20th century was the century of social democracy in Western Europe. Nowadays the social democratic model of the welfare state is in deep crisis. This model, in which paid work is central, full (male) employment is the norm and social benefits are dependent on one’s performance in paid work is no longer working. Economic changes have accelerated the declining membership of unions. The strength of the various social democratic parties is thus structurally eroded. This opens the way for basic income as the economic model for the 21st century.
US: Petition for basic income pilot program
A pilot program in the United States would show policymakers that a basic income is far superior to our outdated bureaucratic safety net. A petition is asking all of the US presidential candidates to take a pledge to fund basic income pilot programs throughout the country.
Response: Indian MP Thinks Basic Income is The Cat’s Pajamas
An article on basic income appeared in The Hindu newspaper recently and is potentially significant because it was written by a Member of Parliament in the ruling BJP party.
